**5. Summary and conclusion**

Biodiversity needs to be conserved, protected, and used sustainably. The benefits that biodiversity provides to society require that effective measures should be managed appropriately and, when indicated, coordinated with ongoing scientific

**13**

*Introductory Chapter: Today's National Parks (NPs) and Protected Areas (PAs)…*

projects. This is to ensure that nature is protected and used sustainably. Today, however, biodiversity is facing a variety of environmental impacts that are directly or indirectly attributable to a variety of environmental impacts due to the concentration of a wide range of human activities and rapid growth in human population. In many parts of the world, however, the loss of biodiversity has been identified as a serious environmental problem that can significantly undermine the prospects for sustainable development and the evolution of ecosystem and reduces their resilience. Our analysis shows that the most significant elements of sustainability in protected area governance that should receive highest priority are integrated approach to natural, cultural, and economic aspects; flexibility in responding to constant changes and pro-activity in finding innovative solutions; involving local community in planning, decision-making, and providing economic benefits with no harm to nature; respecting traditional knowledge as the basis for building up new learning approaches and programmes; and connectivity to other protected areas, common issues, and international developments [1]. It is worth noting, therefore, that the national parks and other types of protected areas continue to form the basis of the full range of species and natural ecosystems that must be better designed, protected, and managed despite impending weaknesses regarding guarding procedures, supervision, and implementation of protection measures in all these areas. In addition to IUCN's close collaboration with UNESCO and WWF, this fact shows that there is a need for a better organisation and co-operation among the administrative and management bodies of a country that will require the cooperation of international agencies, non-governmental organisations, researchers, as well as local communities in the areas of conservation or any other protected area authorities. This approach, nonetheless, may be modified to specific contexts and goals, and applied with this purpose to other similar social environments, especially in countries in transition within the region. With this kind of intra- and inter-kind of relationships between various stakeholders, all parties will strengthen their positive attitude towards preserving and also lend greater support in the wider scope of PAs and NPs, since they think that essentially it has positive influence on the life of

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90107*

the inhabitants and on the natural environment.

We would like to express our gratitude to IntechOpen for their support throughout the stage of preparing this book. Thanks also go to the Faculty of Administrative Science & Policy Studies (FSPPP), Research and Management Centre UiTM, Centre for Bio-Diversity & Sustainable Development, and UiTM Johor Malaysia for facilities and resources granted to us in preparing this book. We appreciate all suggestions, observations, and input from all contributors to this volume, as well as the unidentified reviewers chosen by IntechOpen in evaluating the manuscripts. May this book be helpful and useful to them and enrich everyone interested in the field

of national parks and protected areas towards future sustainability.

**Acknowledgements**

*Introductory Chapter: Today's National Parks (NPs) and Protected Areas (PAs)… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90107*

projects. This is to ensure that nature is protected and used sustainably. Today, however, biodiversity is facing a variety of environmental impacts that are directly or indirectly attributable to a variety of environmental impacts due to the concentration of a wide range of human activities and rapid growth in human population. In many parts of the world, however, the loss of biodiversity has been identified as a serious environmental problem that can significantly undermine the prospects for sustainable development and the evolution of ecosystem and reduces their resilience. Our analysis shows that the most significant elements of sustainability in protected area governance that should receive highest priority are integrated approach to natural, cultural, and economic aspects; flexibility in responding to constant changes and pro-activity in finding innovative solutions; involving local community in planning, decision-making, and providing economic benefits with no harm to nature; respecting traditional knowledge as the basis for building up new learning approaches and programmes; and connectivity to other protected areas, common issues, and international developments [1]. It is worth noting, therefore, that the national parks and other types of protected areas continue to form the basis of the full range of species and natural ecosystems that must be better designed, protected, and managed despite impending weaknesses regarding guarding procedures, supervision, and implementation of protection measures in all these areas.

In addition to IUCN's close collaboration with UNESCO and WWF, this fact shows that there is a need for a better organisation and co-operation among the administrative and management bodies of a country that will require the cooperation of international agencies, non-governmental organisations, researchers, as well as local communities in the areas of conservation or any other protected area authorities. This approach, nonetheless, may be modified to specific contexts and goals, and applied with this purpose to other similar social environments, especially in countries in transition within the region. With this kind of intra- and inter-kind of relationships between various stakeholders, all parties will strengthen their positive attitude towards preserving and also lend greater support in the wider scope of PAs and NPs, since they think that essentially it has positive influence on the life of the inhabitants and on the natural environment.

#### **Acknowledgements**

*Protected Areas, National Parks and Sustainable Future*

Some of the additional solutions for protected areas include the following:

montane cloud forests) and wetland areas increase total water flow.

• *Health:* Climate change and lack of clean water are expected to lead to increased health risks and epidemics. Protected areas contribute to health by protecting intact ecosystems and supplies of medicinal plants and genetic material for pharmaceuticals. Many people (80% in Africa) rely on traditional medicines; 28% of plants are used medicinally; and 60% of medicinal plants

• *Ecosystem stability*: Economic losses from natural disasters have increased 10-fold over the last 50 years. Protected areas can play a role in helping reduce the occurrence and impacts of natural disasters, such as floods, landslides, tsunamis, typhoons and storms, fire and drought, and desertification. For example, in Argentina, flood protection programmes have integrated conservation of natural habitats to reduce vulnerability and disaster risks, to comple-

• *Distinguishing features*: Category II areas are typically large and conserve a functioning "ecosystem", although to be able to achieve this, the protected area may need to be complemented by sympathetic management in surrounding areas.

• The area should contain representative examples of major natural regions, and biological and environmental features or scenery, where native plant and animal species, habitats, and geodiversity sites are of special spiritual,

• The composition, structure, and function of biodiversity should be to a great degree in a "natural" state or have the potential to be restored to such a state,

with relatively low risk of successful invasions by non-native species.

• *Role in the landscape/seascape*: Category II provides large-scale conservation opportunities where natural ecological processes can continue in perpetuity, allowing space for continuing evolution. They are often key stepping-stones for designing and developing large-scale biological corridors or other connectivity conservation initiatives required for those species (wide-ranging and/or migratory) that cannot be conserved entirely within a single protected area.

Biodiversity needs to be conserved, protected, and used sustainably. The benefits that biodiversity provides to society require that effective measures should be managed appropriately and, when indicated, coordinated with ongoing scientific

scientific, educational, recreational, or tourist significance.

are collected from the wild, including in protected areas.

ment infrastructure and early-warning investments.

• *Clean Water:* One third of the 105 world's largest cities derive drinking water from forested protected areas. Another 10% obtain water from sources that originate in 'protected' watersheds. Some natural forests (especially tropical

• *Food Security*: Protected areas conserve populations of wild species, pollinators, and crop wild relatives safeguarding species and populations vital for food

*4.4.7 Additional solutions for protected areas*

security and agriculture.

**12**

**5. Summary and conclusion**

We would like to express our gratitude to IntechOpen for their support throughout the stage of preparing this book. Thanks also go to the Faculty of Administrative Science & Policy Studies (FSPPP), Research and Management Centre UiTM, Centre for Bio-Diversity & Sustainable Development, and UiTM Johor Malaysia for facilities and resources granted to us in preparing this book. We appreciate all suggestions, observations, and input from all contributors to this volume, as well as the unidentified reviewers chosen by IntechOpen in evaluating the manuscripts. May this book be helpful and useful to them and enrich everyone interested in the field of national parks and protected areas towards future sustainability.
